Hello! My name is Tatiana Zinn and I'm entering my freshman year of high school at Highland Park High School!
Fourteen years ago, I was born in Newton, Massachusetts. I enjoyed nine years figure skating, reading, and the freedom associated with young adolescence. Then, I moved to Dubai with my family after my father received a job offer. We "vacationed" for two years, enjoying the rich cultural diversity and the plentiful opportunities to expand both our palates and linguistic abilities. My brother and I were able to attend an amazing school and learn bits and pieces of Arabic. Then, my family moved to Dallas, Texas, where we are currently residing. I am enrolled in all advanced classes and enjoy challenging myself by taking both Chinese and Spanish as my foreign languages. I currently know four languages, though few fluently (ASL, Chinese, Spanish, English). In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, advocating for women's rights in underdeveloped countries and learning about science, religion, and politics. I also enjoy computer programming (coding on Java Script). My interest in science developed when I was very young, for I was (and still am) naturally curious about our environment, our bodies and how they fight illness, and the many inventions that have lead to the higher life expectancy we now enjoy. Now, I love to learn about medicine, mathematics, history, biology, and engineering. I would love to pursue a career in the field of STEM in the future. I'm extremely passionate about science, human rights, and the ongoing "cats versus dogs" debate.
Stem Cell EssayBy: Tatiana Zinn and Tony Li Stem cells have endlessly fascinated scientists since the early twentieth century. These cells posses the uniqueability to generate into various categories of cells, ranging from skin cells to neurons, and everything in between. Stem cells continuously regenerate by the process of mitosis, which allows specialized cells to emerge and replenish numerous locations of the body. Zygotes use stem cells to form our early appendages. At this stage, stem cells are known as embryonic cells. Embryonic cells are pluripotent stem cells that originate from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. These cells contain the limitless ability of becoming any cell type. As these stem cells mature, they become known as adult stem cells. These stem cells, while still regenerative and magnificent, are more limited in their potential. They become skin, muscle, and blood cells, but cannot regenerate the body as embryonic stem cells can. Scientists hope that embryonic stem cells, with their numerous properties, could regenerate crucial body parts, namely limbs and neurons, just like regenerative animals in nature. Yet, the omni-regenerative properties of embryonic stem cells is not without its technical difficulties and controversies; many people, for instance, refuse to exploit this new opportunity for religious or ethical considerations. Due to such obstacles, the bedside applications of embryonic stem cells are still inapplicable in many occasions. A new hope and method of regenerations is thus, in response, offered to patients. The adult stem cells - present in patients themselves - are multi-potent cells that constantly regenerate certain tissues in the body. Therefore, these cells can be extracted from the adult patients and used on themselves. Though without the controversies of embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells can only replenish limited connective tissues. In response to the previously expressed religious and ethical concerns, scientists have devised a way to bypass those worries by programming adult stem cells to contain the sought after qualities contained by embryonic stem cells. Because of these properties, embryonic stem cells are sought after by a myriad of scientists, all in hopes of stimulating our bodies and immune systems to regenerate our limbs, neurons, and other essential body parts as other animals can. The word “stem cell” has existed for approximately 148 years, yet has only been used properly for 107 years. In 1957, E. Donnall Thomas attempted the first ever bone marrow transplant. Six years later, two Canadian scientists were able to distinguish blood stem cells from other cells. The first successful bone marrow transplant was performed in 1968, a mere eleven years after the first attempt at a bone marrow transplant occurred. Embryonic stem cells were harvested from the uteruses of mice in 1981, and were the first ever to be isolated. Nearly forty years later, scientists can perform such tasks with brilliant ease. In a recent study, twenty-three severely ill patients suffering from multiple sclerosis were treated with chemotherapy (to eradicate their immune systems) and then were given bone marrow cells to regenerate their immune systems. A large portion of these patients benefited tremendously from this, one, who could barely walk before this treatment, can now downhill ski. In another study, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells can be used to regenerate heart tissue for patients with cardiomyopathy. Stem cells were injected into the tissue scars (that caused their heart attacks) during bypass surgery. Although this trial followed only eleven patients, its results were remarkable. Patients saw a forty percent reduction of scar tissue and a thirty percent increase in heart function, not to mention the seventy percent increase in quality of life in a mere 24 months after the stem cells were administered. Researchers in Cambridge, Massachusetts believe they can design synthetic biomaterials that will eradicate the need of root canals. They plan to regenerate dentin by using “native dental stem cells.” These materials are placed directly on top of the pulp tissue, causing the body to regenerate itself and its tissue. This would not only eliminate the unnecessary pain of a root canal, but it would open many doors for regenerative medicine and reparative dentistry. The possibilities of stem cells appear endless and will improve the lives of many to come. Stem cells are being researched in abundance and the human race will reap many benefits from such research. One day, scientists could even program human stem cells to regenerate entire limbs. From heart tissue mending itself to teeth repairing themselves, the future of regenerative medicine has never been more promising.
Fourteen years ago, I was born in Newton, Massachusetts. I enjoyed nine years figure skating, reading, and the freedom associated with young adolescence. Then, I moved to Dubai with my family after my father received a job offer. We "vacationed" for two years, enjoying the rich cultural diversity and the plentiful opportunities to expand both our palates and linguistic abilities. My brother and I were able to attend an amazing school and learn bits and pieces of Arabic. Then, my family moved to Dallas, Texas, where we are currently residing. I am enrolled in all advanced classes and enjoy challenging myself by taking both Chinese and Spanish as my foreign languages. I currently know four languages, though few fluently (ASL, Chinese, Spanish, English). In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, advocating for women's rights in underdeveloped countries and learning about science, religion, and politics. I also enjoy computer programming (coding on Java Script). My interest in science developed when I was very young, for I was (and still am) naturally curious about our environment, our bodies and how they fight illness, and the many inventions that have lead to the higher life expectancy we now enjoy. Now, I love to learn about medicine, mathematics, history, biology, and engineering. I would love to pursue a career in the field of STEM in the future. I'm extremely passionate about science, human rights, and the ongoing "cats versus dogs" debate.
Stem Cell EssayBy: Tatiana Zinn and Tony Li
Stem cells have endlessly fascinated scientists since the early twentieth century. These cells posses the uniqueability to generate into various categories of cells, ranging from skin cells to neurons, and everything in between. Stem cells continuously regenerate by the process of mitosis, which allows specialized cells to emerge and replenish numerous locations of the body. Zygotes use stem cells to form our early appendages. At this stage, stem cells are known as embryonic cells. Embryonic cells are pluripotent stem cells that originate from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. These cells contain the limitless ability of becoming any cell type. As these stem cells mature, they become known as adult stem cells. These stem cells, while still regenerative and magnificent, are more limited in their potential. They become skin, muscle, and blood cells, but cannot regenerate the body as embryonic stem cells can. Scientists hope that embryonic stem cells, with their numerous properties, could regenerate crucial body parts, namely limbs and neurons, just like regenerative animals in nature. Yet, the omni-regenerative properties of embryonic stem cells is not without its technical difficulties and controversies; many people, for instance, refuse to exploit this new opportunity for religious or ethical considerations. Due to such obstacles, the bedside applications of embryonic stem cells are still inapplicable in many occasions. A new hope and method of regenerations is thus, in response, offered to patients. The adult stem cells - present in patients themselves - are multi-potent cells that constantly regenerate certain tissues in the body. Therefore, these cells can be extracted from the adult patients and used on themselves. Though without the controversies of embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells can only replenish limited connective tissues. In response to the previously expressed religious and ethical concerns, scientists have devised a way to bypass those worries by programming adult stem cells to contain the sought after qualities contained by embryonic stem cells. Because of these properties, embryonic stem cells are sought after by a myriad of scientists, all in hopes of stimulating our bodies and immune systems to regenerate our limbs, neurons, and other essential body parts as other animals can.
The word “stem cell” has existed for approximately 148 years, yet has only been used properly for 107 years. In 1957, E. Donnall Thomas attempted the first ever bone marrow transplant. Six years later, two Canadian scientists were able to distinguish blood stem cells from other cells. The first successful bone marrow transplant was performed in 1968, a mere eleven years after the first attempt at a bone marrow transplant occurred. Embryonic stem cells were harvested from the uteruses of mice in 1981, and were the first ever to be isolated. Nearly forty years later, scientists can perform such tasks with brilliant ease.
In a recent study, twenty-three severely ill patients suffering from multiple sclerosis were treated with chemotherapy (to eradicate their immune systems) and then were given bone marrow cells to regenerate their immune systems. A large portion of these patients benefited tremendously from this, one, who could barely walk before this treatment, can now downhill ski.
In another study, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells can be used to regenerate heart tissue for patients with cardiomyopathy. Stem cells were injected into the tissue scars (that caused their heart attacks) during bypass surgery. Although this trial followed only eleven patients, its results were remarkable. Patients saw a forty percent reduction of scar tissue and a thirty percent increase in heart function, not to mention the seventy percent increase in quality of life in a mere 24 months after the stem cells were administered.
Researchers in Cambridge, Massachusetts believe they can design synthetic biomaterials that will eradicate the need of root canals. They plan to regenerate dentin by using “native dental stem cells.” These materials are placed directly on top of the pulp tissue, causing the body to regenerate itself and its tissue. This would not only eliminate the unnecessary pain of a root canal, but it would open many doors for regenerative medicine and reparative dentistry.
The possibilities of stem cells appear endless and will improve the lives of many to come. Stem cells are being researched in abundance and the human race will reap many benefits from such research. One day, scientists could even program human stem cells to regenerate entire limbs. From heart tissue mending itself to teeth repairing themselves, the future of regenerative medicine has never been more promising.
__http://stemcell.childrenshospital.org/about-stem-cells/history/__
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/pages/basics3.aspx
__http://www.eurostemcell.org/stem-cell-faq/embryonic-stem-cells-and-research#t596n26827__
__http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embryonic-stem-cells-where-do-they-come-and-what-can-they-do__
__http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embryonic-stem-cells-where-do-they-come-and-what-can-they-do__
__http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/09/multiple-sclerosis-patients-walking-working-and-skiing-after-gro/__
PowerPoint Presentation:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OF054XllwAK4_N_N6vrmkMvVV3XGYcXC30QvWKD-BPM/edit#slide=id.g116902b5a1_0_118